Vibrating guidewire torquer and methods of use

Abstract

The invention provides a method of intravascular intervention that includes inserting a guidewire comprising an extended body into a lumen within tissue of a patient, advancing the guidewire into a chronic total occlusion, vibrating a proximal end of the guidewire with a mechanical vibrator, and crossing the chronic total occlusion while a distal end of the guidewire is vibrating.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of intravascular intervention, the method comprising:
 inserting a guidewire comprising an extended body into a lumen within a tissue of a patient; 
 applying vibration generated by a mechanical vibrator and a torquer, wherein the torquer is coupled to the proximal end of the guidewire, wherein the torquer comprises a proximal end, and the proximal end of the torquer is coupled to the mechanical vibrator to produce a vibrating linear force along the length of the guidewire and vibrates the guidewire, wherein the mechanical vibrator comprises a motor and a mass coupled to and axially aligned with the motor, wherein the motor comprises a non-resonant linear motor driving the mass; and 
 as the guidewire vibrates, advancing the guidewire through the lumen to a chronic total occlusion. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the guidewire comprises a low-friction surface treatment. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising advancing a catheter over the guidewire to the chronic total occlusion. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the catheter comprises a balloon. 
     
     
       5. A device for intravascular intervention within a lumen of a patient, the device comprising:
 a guidewire comprising an extended body with a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a torquer fixed to the proximal end of the guidewire, wherein the torquer comprises a proximal end; and 
 a mechanical vibrator coupled to the proximal end of the torquer, wherein the mechanical vibrator comprises a motor and a mass coupled to and axially aligned with the motor, wherein the motor is a non-resonant linear motor and the motor drives the mass, and the mechanical vibrator is configured to produce a linear force to the guidewire via the torquer along the length of the guidewire that vibrates the guidewire as the guidewire advances through the lumen of the patient. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein a distal portion of the guidewire comprises a low-friction surface treatment. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a catheter that is advanced into the lumen of the patient over the guidewire. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the catheter comprises a balloon. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 5  wherein the torquer is a pin vise. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 5  wherein the vibrating linear force replaces a coefficient of static friction along the length of the guidewire with a substantially uniform coefficient of dynamic friction as the vibrating guidewire member is advanced through the lumen of the patient. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1  wherein the vibrating linear force applied to the guidewire replaces a coefficient of static friction along the length of the guidewire with a substantially uniform coefficient of dynamic friction as the vibrating guidewire advances. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1  wherein the vibrating guidewire substantially overcomes static friction between the guidewire and the lumen as the guidewire is advanced into the lumen. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 5  wherein the vibrating guidewire substantially overcomes static friction between the guidewire and the lumen as the guidewire is advanced into the lumen. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1  wherein the mass is disposed proximally of the spring. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 5  wherein the mass is disposed proximally of the spring.